Game apparatus



Sept. 4, 1962 Q wo 3,052,226

GAME APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1958 INVENTOR EM BY Q wkmfa ATTORNEYUnited States Patent C) 3,052,226 GAME APPARATUS Alvin C. Woll, 1247Selby Ave., St. Paul, Minn. Filed July 17, 1958, Ser. No. 749,207 1Claim. (Cl. 124-5) This invention relates to an improvement in gameapparatus and deals particularly with an apparatus used in a novel gameplayed between a pair of opposing teams.

The present invention has for its object the provision of equipment usedin the playing of a game of a type which may be played by variousmembers of a family regardless of age or which may be played as a teamgame either out of doors or in a recreation room. The game may vary tosome extent in its rules and regulations in order to fit conditions andin order to suit the participants. In general, it is a game of skillwhich combines speed, dexterity, and natural athletic ability, and mayalso be played by people of all ages as a goal scoring skill gameallowing turns shooting at the goal from a set distance.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a ballwhich is preferably a rubber ball of good grade which may be rolled overthe surface of the ground or floor or which may be easily tossed throughthe air without much danger of injury either to participants or tosurrounding objects. This ball is manipulated at all times by loopedsticks with which each player is equipped. The looped stick includes anelongated handle provided with a loop shaped end preferably formed ofmetal rod or comparable material to be circular in cross section. Theloop is arranged in the plane of the handle and forms an extension onthe end of the handle. The diameter of the loop is substantially smallerthan the diameter of the ball so that the ball may be rolled over thesurface of the ground or floor while partially extending through theloop.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a hoopsupported above the surface of the ground or floor on a substantiallyvertical plane which forms the target for the ball. This hoop may besomewhat similar to the rim of a basketball basket supported to extendupwardly above the level of the ground. Two such hoops are normally usedin the game and the hoops are usually spaced a suitable distance apartin parallel relation at opposite ends of the playing area. One hoopforms the target for one team and the other forms a target for theopposing team. In order to score in the game, it is necessary for theball to be impelled off the surface of the ground or floor by the loopedstick and through the hoop, which requires skill and marksmanship.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of aball and looped stick which are so proportioned that the loop may extendsufficiently beneath the ball so that it can be lifted from the surfaceof the ground or floor with a forwardly and upwardly directed swing.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of aball and a looped stick which may be used to control the ball so thatthe ball may be rolled along the playing surface while under control ofthe looped stick, permitting the player to pivot or turn in onedirection or the other while still having control of the ball. At thesame time, the game, when properly played, requires team work betweenthe various members of the team as the ball may be passed from oneplayer to another much in the manner of a hockey puck until one of theplayers is in position to attempt to score. At the same time, theopposing players may attempt to gain possession of the ball either Whileit is being controlled or by intercepting a pass. Due to the rounddesign of the loop stick, the receiving and/or interception of a passedball is simplified for one may skillfully engage the ball with the loopstick for ones own team mates.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaim.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the looped stick with which the gameis played.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one of the hoops or targets throughwhich the ball must be tossed.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the stick and ball showing the mannerin which the ball may be controlled while moving it along the surface ofthe playing area.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the ball maybe controlled or lifted from the playing surface by proper manipulationof the looped stick.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the playing field on which the gamemay be played.

The structure is extremely simple in form but provides fun and amusementfor virtually any reasonable number of participants depending upon thesize of the playing area. In preferred form, the game is played in agenerally rectangular area shown diagrammatically in FIG- URE 5 havinggenerally parallel side lines 10 and 11 and generally parallel rightangularly arranged end lines 12 and 13. The hoops or targets arearranged at opposite ends of the playing field and are indicated ingeneral by the numerals 14 and 15. Also, in preferred form, the hoops ortargets 14 and 15 are enclosed within a rectangular area 16 or 17respectively defining a zone adjoining the target which may not beentered by the players of either team. This area provides a space whichcannot well be blocked off so that the players have a reasonable chanceof obtaining a shot at the hoop.

The looped stick is indicated in general by the letter A and includes anelongated handle 19 of aluminum tubing or comparable material having ahandle 20 of rubber or other suitable material attached to one endthereof. The other end of the handle 19 is flattened as indicated at 21to accommodate the parallel ends of the loop as will be described.

The loop 22 is bent from an elongated rod of metal or comparablematerial which is bent into circular form with the ends of the rod bentat 23 and 24 respectively to form parallel adjacent substantiallyradially extending ends 25 and 26. These ends 25 and 26 are engaged inthe flattened end 21 of the handle and are secured in place in anydesired manner. Thus the plane of the loop 22 is substantially throughthe axis of the handle.

The targets 14 and 15 are constructed as best illustrated in FIGURE 2 ofthe drawings, although the specific construction of the target is not ofextreme importance. The two targets 14 and 15 are similar, one target 14being shown in FIGURE 2. As indicated in this figure, the target 14includes a base panel 27 of proper size to keep the target from tippingeasily if struck by the ball. An angle bracket 29 is mounted upon thebase panel 27. The angle bracket 29' includes a horizontal fiange 30which is secured in surface contact to the base board 27 by bolts 31 orother suitable means. The angle bracket also includes a substantiallyvertical flange 32 having its upper edge welded or otherwise secured toa circular metal rod hoop 33.

In preferred construction, a generally U-shaped brace is provided havingits connecting portion 34 welded or otherwise secured to the uppersurface of the flange 30 and having upwardly and outwardly divergingarms 35 and 36 engaging the hoop 33 at widely spaced points to form asupport for holding the hoop in vertical position.

The ball with which the game is played is indicated by the letter B.This ball in preferred form is a hollow rubber ball which will bounceupon striking a solid object and which is of a diameter somewhat greaterthan the diameter of the loop 22. As a typical example of thearrangement, the game has been very successfully played with a rubberball B of six inches outer diameter while the loop 22 has an innerdiameter of slightly less than fiveinches. In other words, the loop isbent so that the center portion of the metal rod forming the loop isabout five and one quarter inches in diameter. As the metal rod of whichthe loop is formed is about three-eights of an inch in diameter, theinternal diameter of the loop 22 is approximately four and seven-eightsinches in diameter. The cross section of the loop is about onefourteenththe diameter of the loop, and the 'loop is about five and five-eighthsinches in outside diameter.

It is very desirable that the loop 22 be formed of rod which is circularin diameter so that the ball may be controlled by the looped stick. Asindicated in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, when the loop 22 is placedover the ball B, the upper portion of the ball will project through theloop 22 confining the ball between the loop and the playing surface.When the looped stick is held in this position, the ball can be moved inany direction, the ball rolling within the loop in whichever directionit is pushed. This permits the player to pivot, turn deceptively in anydirection, and to pass the ball in any direction by properlymanipulating the angle of the stick.

As is also illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, when the bottom ofthe loop 22 is in contact with the playing surface, the loop is entirelybehind the ball so that the ball may be swung out of contact with theplaying surface of an upward swing of the stick. Such shots arenecessary in order to score as the ball must pass through the hoop 14 or15 which is elevated above the playing surface. Thus, it is importantthat the looped stick be of proper proportion relative to the diameterof the ball. If the loop is of too large diameter, it fits so far downover the ball that the ball does not roll freely on the playing surface.If the loop of the looped stick is too small in diameter, it does notfit over enough of the surface of the ball to permit the ball to becontrolled in the manner described. Obviously, if the diameter of theloop is decreased, the difliculty in playing the game increasescorrespondingly.

The manner in which the game is played is believed generally apparentfrom the foregoing description. It will be seen that the number ofparticipants on each team may vary considerably depending upon the sizeof the playing field. It will also be seen that the ball may be rolledabout on the playing surface and passed from one player to another.While a player is controlling the ball, an opposing player may attemptto insert his looped stick beneath the one controlling the ball and liftit out of contact with the ball to free the ball. When a player gets inposition to make a shot at the target, he may do so by swinging thelooped stick forwardly and upwardly toward the target, tossing the ballthrough the air. In many respects, the game may be played in the mannerof hockey with opposing players attempting to gain possession of theball. If the ball rolls out of bounds, it may be returned to the playingfield from the spot where it went out of bounds by a player of the teamopposing the team who rolled the ball out of bounds. The game may bestarted by rolling the ball onto the playing area between the two teamsboth of which then attempt to gain possession of the ball.

In efiFect, the loop 22 forms an open pocket engaging the ball on aplane substantially parallel to the handle or through the axis thereof.The loop engages portions of the ball solely in one hemisphere thereofat any time so that the ball may be rolled beneath the inverted loop, orlifted from the ground by a forward sweeping stroke.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in game apparatus, andwhile I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, Idesire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scopeof the following claim without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

A game device including a ball, a looped stick with which the ball maybe manipulated, the ball comprising a hollow ball, and the stickincluding a loop of substantially circular shape and circular crosssection and having an elongated handle, the inner diameter of the loopbeing substantially five-sixths the outside diameter of the ball, theloop being formed of a material different from that of the ball andpresenting a smooth rolling surface against which the ball may freelyrotate, the loop having a cross sectional diameter of aboutone-fourteenth the diameter of the loop, making the outside diameter ofthe loop less than the diameter of the ball so that when heldvertically, said loop is entirely above the lower surface of the ballwhen the ball is resting upon a horizontal surface and the ball isextending partially through the loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,064,914 Jones June 17, 1913 1,585,446 Warwick May 18, 1926 1,905,932Foster Apr. 25, 1933 r 2,002,631 Fiondella May 28, 1935 2,053,635Sandeberg Sept. 8, 1936 2,382,949 McLaren Aug. 14, 1945 2,432,570Gorsuch Dec. 16, 1947 2,433,625 Raspet Dec. 30, 1947 2,580,799Lauterbach Jan. 1, 1952 2,886,320 Van Hennik May 12, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 836,119 France Oct. 10, 1938

